The Naxi minority, numbering about 278,000, live in Sichuan and Yunnan, With Lijiang as their spiritual capital. Descended from Tibetan nomads , the Naxi lived until recently in matriarchal families , though local rulers were always male.There are strong matriarchal influence throughout Naxi sociaty and in particular in the Naxi language. For example, Nouns become superlative when the word "famale" is added and diminutive with the addition on "male". A "female stone," therefor , is a boulder; a "male stone" a pebble. The script, Called Dongba, consists of about 1,400 pictograms and is the only hieroglyphic writing system still in use. The Naxi religion, also called Dongba, is polytheistic, and mixes elements of Daoism and Tibetan lamaism with older animist beliefs. The main Naxi deity is Sanduo, a protector war god deppicted twice a year with the sacrifice of a goat and, of course, much singing and dancing.
Anyhow thats something about this beautiful old town and the people here. it is so nice that I didnt want to go anywhere else . You can just live a simple life there like that .
I stayed in the town for a few days and went to visit the Jade snow mountain there , had a one day mule riding trip which is good. well there is another tiny little old towns just about 10km away from the major old town which is facinating too, extremely clear water and creek , there are always many coffee shops and retaurants along the streets., plenty of food and all kinds of gifts shops. Anyhow if you want to go there I suggest you leaving yourself a few more days for Lijiang.